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First, I google mapped my routes, turns out the route around the golf course actually was the 2+ miles I thought it was. So I feel better about that.

Second, I decided to go to every-other-day as the race got closer. Was starting to feel it in the knees. But not sure that was a good idea, felt like I lost a bit between runs. What I should probably do is bike on the off days, that’s always been good for the knees.

Third, it’s been just brutally hot the last week, 90+ with 80+ humidity. I ran in that Monday, on a shorter (a mile or less) route with a nasty hill in it. But on Wednesday, less than three hours before the race start… the race organizers postponed it. Which was, and wasn’t, a relief — I was kind of hoping to get it over with, plus now that meant I was two days off between runs. As it turned out, three days off, I didn’t put the shoes back on until this morning. Went back to the shortest route, almost felt like it did two weeks ago at the start, but by the end I was feeling a little more into it.

Wasn’t the easiest to drag my butt out of bed this morning, but once I got outside and started running, I felt pretty good. Good enough that I thought about extending the route. Trouble was, the route around the park is about maxed at 0.85 mi, so… I tried the whole loop around the golf course. That’s the good. The other good thing is, okay granted the pace wasn’t much, but not much huffing and puffing, so the CV isn’t holding me back.

When I got back to the house, I checked the shuffle-ometer — only 1.6 mi. That’s unfortunate, I thought I was going to be a lot closer to two. And, bad math on my part, 5k is 3 mi. Whoops. So now I’ve done… half.

The ugly part was having to stop and walk a couple times (using the old 100 paces rule from my grad school running partner). Wasn’t the wind, it was the legs, particularly the calves. Hmm.

No running today. Knee felt a little sore yesterday after running, so I took a little ibuprofen to help it settle down. Then I went bowling, which really didn’t help. So now it’s a week to go and i am way behind schedule. Hmm.

First off, there’s a day missing, and that’s because yesterday morning was an unintentional off day. When i woke up my knee was twinging, and frankly, I just didn’t want to put on the runnin’ shoes. So that was that, no need to call the waaaa-mbulance, just no run yesterday.

Today, on the other hand, went pretty well. A little more stride, a lot less shufflin’, a lot more distance and a lot less huffin’. Round trip was 0.85 mi, 1 hill, no walking. So maybe this two days on, one day off thing is a good idea.

Went back to the short and flat route today, so i could get around without walking. Also, found a pedometer and brought that with to measure the route. Came out to a little over half a mile. That’s not gonna cut it, will need to get that up to a mile. And some time this week i need to take a shot at the full distance. Hm. Ten days to go.

Changing things up a bit, went for an evening run today. Also added some length to the route, I’ve gotten *to* the golf course I eventually want to run *around*. And I added a second hill, although that (plus the heat) kicked my ass and I had to walk at a couple points.

But I’m feeling better about this. The legs are starting to get a little spring again, so it’s at least a little less of an old man shuffle. And I’m getting back to the sort of breathing rythyms I remember from running in grad school.

But I still think it’s sick to call two miles a “fun run”. 11 days to go.

Under two weeks to the 5k, I got back at it yesterday. The day off gave my legs a chance to catch up; after the mornings run they didn’t feel anywhere near as stiff and sore. Then again I rode the motorbike to work, so they got a little use there as well.

I did lengthen the route ever so slightly by going thru the park instead of alongside it. And i went up a hill i’d been going around. Long way to go yet though.

One of the nice things about my new neighborhood is the little stream that runs through it. My route crosses it a couple times. It’s not all that deep and maybe ten feet across, running through people’s backyards and through the golf course. I traced some of it’s length the other day while out on the bike, but it’s difficult to follow as it mostly runs through private property.